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Monday, September 18, 2006

Nukos ( Uroteuthis Bartschi Rehder )

I made some searching about the nukos (local squid) that is found in Libjo. If you notice part of Libjo's logo which I have a link here, has a squid on it. During 1970's to 1980's this kind of squid is very abundant in Libjo bay and in its neighboring municipalities. There are tons and hundreds of tons of squid caught during these times. This kind of squid is caught only during when there is no moon - kadudman (moonless night) using lampara (kerosene lamp). So far what I know about squid is, it feeds during nighttime closer to the surface (around 10 feet from surface) and migrate back to 25 feet down during the day. During nights when this species are on the shallow they attracted to small shrimps, which is also attracted to fishing light (lampara). The process of catching this squid is known as Simbada**. When a swarm of it is form beneath the boat, fishermen use nets to capture it. The boat specially made to catch this kind of squid is called Surit and a larger version is called Basnig.

If you live in Libjo (Albor) during this times and during the drying season of this squids.. the smell is over powering. You even could not sleep during nights. My favorites squid recipe is kinilaw, adobo and binuyad (dried squid).

The only thing that's unfortunate with Nukos is, during the time this species were caught they're bidhan (about to spawn eggs). If everything’s caught during spawning season nothing will be left the next season. And there is no rules regulating the catch of squid, national and yet the municipal level.

** Street dancing during the celebration of the town’s foundation (Araw ng Libjo) is also called Simbada.

From wikipedia:Squid are exclusively carnivorous, feeding on fish and other invertebrates. Squid usually have two elongated tentacles especially for the capture of food. They are voracious, fast-moving and fast-growing predators, and can be hugely abundant in productive seas. Most live for one year, dying after spawning, although some of the giant species may live for two years or more.